This is a sample of reading and discussion questions from a discussion guide, available for free download in the Resources and Downloads tab.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think it was so important to Amy to create the perfect bao?

2. Amy works on creating a bao with pork, shrimp, ginger, and mushrooms. Have you tried a bao like this or with other fillings? Can you think of foods from other cultures that are similar?

3. Making dumplings is a family activity that means a lot to Amy. What is a food that means a lot to your community or family? Have you been taught to cook or create anything as part of a tradition?

4. In the end, Amy realizes her “not-so-perfect bao … tastes just as good.” Can you think of something you expected to be “perfect” that turned out differently?

○ What did you expect to be perfect and why?

○ Was it still good even if it was different than expected?'

Extension Activities

This Is a Dumpling? Research and discuss this food category. Consider whether there are other foods across cultures that fit in a category together, even though we might not think of them as similar (e.g., samosas, sandwiches, tamales).

○ What did you think a bao was?

○ What do you think of when you think of dumplings?

○ Looking at variations on dumplings, did you think of this or that food item as a dumpling before?

An Abundance of Dumplings. Have a potluck or cooking session to try bao as well as variations on dumplings from other cultures.

○ What makes them different?

○ What makes them similar?

○ Do these foods have a certain cultural significance?

For many more discussion questions and extension activities based on Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang, check out the discussion guide below in the Resources and Downloads tab.